Advertisement
In a significant political move, boxer Vijender Singh has switched allegiance from the Congress to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dealing another blow to the Congress party just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections.
Vijender Singh, a prominent Olympian who had previously aligned with the Congress in 2019, made the announcement of his joining the BJP, marking a notable shift in his political affiliation.
The 38-year-old pugilist, hailing from Haryana’s Bhiwani district, rose to fame as the first Indian boxer to secure a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His sporting achievements also include winning bronze at the 2009 World Championships and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, along with clinching gold at the 2010 Asian Games.
Recognized for his outstanding contributions to sports, Vijender Singh was honored with the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna’ award in 2009, now known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, followed by the prestigious Padma Shri in 2010.
His foray into politics began ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when he contested on a Congress ticket from the South Delhi constituency, albeit unsuccessfully, losing to the BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri.
During his tenure with the Congress, Vijender Singh actively supported various social causes, including backing farmers’ protests and participating in wrestlers’ demonstrations against the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Singh.
With his decision to join the BJP, Vijender Singh’s political trajectory takes a new turn, potentially influencing the dynamics of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. His move comes at a crucial juncture as Mathura gears up for polling in the second phase on April 26, with the deadline for filing nominations set for April 4.
